The Power of Pre-Event and Post-Event Massage: Why Timing Matters
Whether you're gearing up for a race, a heavy lifting session, or a weekend tennis match, your body deserves more than just a warm-up and a protein shake. Sports massage—done at the right time—can be the difference between peak performance and painful recovery.
Pre-Event Massage: Priming the Engine
Think of pre-event massage as your body’s ignition switch. It’s not about deep relaxation—it’s about stimulation, readiness, and focus.
Benefits of pre-event massage:
Warms up fascia tissues: Techniques like friction and quick effleurage increase blood flow and prep muscles for action.
Improves range of motion: Loosening tight areas helps athletes move more freely and efficiently.
Reduces muscle tension: Less tightness means lower injury risk and better coordination.
Boosts mental focus: A short, energising massage can help athletes feel grounded and ready to perform. All that blood flow, ready to go!
Timing tip: Ideally done 15–45 minutes before the event, using quick, invigorating strokes that warm and energise without fatigue.
Post-Event Massage: Reset and Recover
After the adrenaline fades and the muscles start to ache, post-event massage steps in as your recovery hero.
Benefits of post-event massage:
Flushes out lactic acid and metabolic waste: Helps reduce delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and inflammation.
Promotes circulation and healing: Fresh oxygen and nutrients reach tired muscles faster.
Supports faster return to training: Recovery isn’t just about rest—it’s about smart intervention.
Timing tip: A light flush-out massage within 1–2 hours post-event is ideal. A deeper follow-up 48–72 hours later can address lingering tension.
At HBW Sports Massage, I’ve seen firsthand how massage timing transforms results. A pre-event massage can help a client feel “switched on” and confident, while post-event work often brings that sigh of relief - “I didn’t realise how tight I was until now.”
Whether you're chasing a personal best or just want to feel good in your body, sports massage isn’t just a luxury—it’s part of the strategy.